INVESTIGATIVE SUMMARY: USAID OIG’s Ongoing Investigation Leads to Referral of Four Additional Former UNRWA Staffers Linked to Hamas for Suspension/Debarment

"USAID OIG, a statutorily independent law enforcement and oversight entity, has found evidence linking four additional current or former staff at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to participation in the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel and/or affiliation with Hamas. These subjects were referred to the U.S. Department of State for consideration of suspension and/or debarment action to exclude them from working across future U.S.-funded aid organizations. The individuals were three UNRWA-employed teachers and a social worker who are alleged to have participated in the holding of civilian hostages kidnapped from Israel and/or the terrorist activities in Israel on October 7, 2023.

To date, our investigation has resulted in suspension and debarment referrals for seven subjects having participated in the October 7 terrorist attacks and 14 subjects having Hamas affiliation. These efforts led to the 10-year government wide debarment of Hafez Mousa Mohammed Mousa, an operative of the Hamas East Jabaliya Battalion, who was found to have coordinated communications with other suspected Hamas members during the October 7 attacks while serving as an UNRWA school principal. That action represented the first known debarment by the U.S. of a terrorist affiliated with a UN agency responsible for humanitarian assistance programming.

USAID OIG’s proactive investigation into UNRWA staff affiliated with Hamas and/or participation in the October 7 attacks remains active and ongoing, with additional suspension and debarment referrals expected.

It remains USAID OIG’s investigative priority to ensure that U.S.-funded humanitarian assistance in Gaza does not fall into the hands of Hamas and other foreign terrorist organizations. In support of this effort, USAID OIG has additional ongoing investigative work aimed at preventing the recirculation of terrorist-affiliated actors across aid organizations operating in Gaza."